Implement



June 16, 1936. w CLARK I 2,044,525

IMPLEMENT Fil ed Oct. 11, 1933 Fig.1. 112 a m 5.

Patented June 16, 1936 IMPLEMENT Edward Douglas Wainwright Clark, Shefiield, England Application October 11, 1933, Serial No. 693,207 In Great Britain November 1, 1932 2 Claims.

This invention relates to table knives of the type comprising an integral blade and tang or handle made from a sheet, strip or forged plate of metal and has for its main object to provide an improved knife of this type having an integral bolster portion upon which the knife may rest in contact with a table, the blade being maintained thereby clear of the table.

Another object is to provide a rest or support for the finger of the user of such a knife.

Another object is to provide a knife of considerable strength or rigidity, particularly in the region of the bolster or the junction of blade and handle.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the following description and accompanying drawing.

Various implements, such as knives, forks, scissors and the like, have had handles or tangs formed integrally with the blades and have incorporated twisted portions between the handles and tangs. In some cases the twist has been through only or less. In other cases the twist has been through 270 or more and in a number of cases the shank of such an implement has been twisted throughout its length.

According to the present invention a table knife is made from a flat blank and comprises a blade and an integral tang or handle. The tang or handle is separated from the blade by a portion of the blank which is twisted through an angle of so that the blade and handle or tang are co-planar. The twisted portion thus also provides between the blade and the tang or handle a web transverse to the plane of the blade upon which web the finger of the user may comfortably rest. The web moreover extends laterally on both sides of the blade and tang or handle, thus providing a bolster upon which the knife may rest or balance upon a table with its blade clear of the surface of the table. The twisted portion of the blank may be corrugated to increase its strength and the twist is preferably righthanded or clockwise in order to provide the most convenient rest upon the flute or web for the index finger of a right-handed user. The web may replace or form the choil of the blade.

In producing a table knife according to this invention the blank may be held in vice-like tools during the twisting operation, one tool gripping the tang end of the blade portion and the other gripping the tang or handle at the requisite distance therefrom.

In the accompanying drawing:-

Figure 1 is a plan and Figure 2 an edge view of a table knife according to the present invention, Figure 3 being a plan of the blank from which the knife is made.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are partial views similar to Figures 1, 2, and 3 respectively illustrating a modification.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawing.

In applying the present invention to the manufacture of a table knife, a blank is cut to the required shape as shown in Figure 3, to provide a blade portion iii with an integral bolster portion ll connecting it to a tang or handle portion 52, which is preferably thicker and consequently heavier than the blade and bolster portions. the desired stage in the process of manufacture the bolster portion 1 I is twisted through an angle of 180 to provide a helically fluted web i3 which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is relatively short to form the equivalent of a bolster situated at the junction of the blade and tang portions, and merging into these surfaces.

The helical fluted web 53 is preferably formed before the blade H3 has been hardened and ground and after the handle l2 has been embossed or otherwise stamped, pierced or worked.

In the preferred method of producing the fluted web l3 and in order to confine the twisted portion to the desired extent, the blank is held in vice-like tools, one tool gripping the tang end of the blade portion I8 and the other gripping the blade end of the tang portion l2 at the requisite distance from the first tool. Although the blank may be bent cold its bolster portion 1 l is preferably heated prior to the twisting operation. If desired tension may be applied to the blank during the twisting operation in order to reduce the shortening of the blank due to the formation of the fluted web Hi.

It will be seen from Figure 3 that the bolster portion II is the weakest part of the blank and the formation of the helical fluted web l3 thus forms the equivalent of a bolster strengthening and stiffening the knife at its weakest place.

The pitch of the fluted Web l3 may be varied as desired, but is conveniently such as to provide a suitable recess for a finger of the user as clearly shown in Figure 2. The twist may be made in either sense, but for use in the right hand it is preferably a right-handed helix as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As shown in Figure l the edge of the helical fluted web l3 may replace or form the choil M of the blade l0. Although a single cutting edge is illustrated the blade l0 may be provided with a double cutting edge, the blade portion of the blank being suitably outlined for this purpose.

In all cases the bolster portion H of the blank may be further strengthened by suitably disposed corrugations which are conveniently formed thereon prior to the twisting operation as shown in Figure 6 whilst Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the helical fluted web l3 thus strengthened. The corrugations are preferably arranged longitudinally in relation to the blank, although they may be otherwise disposed. If desired they may extend beyond the region of the bolster portion H to strengthen adjoining parts.

In the application of the invention illustrated the tang portion I 2 of the blank ultimately forms the handle of the implement but, particularly in the case of knives, the tang portion I2 may be shaped to fit into and be secured to a separate handle. 7

In the case of a scale tang blade the tang may be of similar shape to that shown in Figure 3, the handle scales being of similar outline and being afiixed to the tang by the usual or any desired means.

In the case of a Whittle tang blade the blank is cut to provide a bolster portion H which may be of similar shape to that shown in Figure 3 although, if desired, it may have either taper or parallel edges connecting the blade portion ID with the tang proper. The tang portion of the blade is shaped in the usual or any desired manner from the bolster portion H (which is twisted to provide the helical fluted web I3) to its free end which is preferably pointed.

The blade is preferably hardened and ground after the production of the helical fluted web l3, or preferably the knife is hardened and tempered throughout after the helical fluted web has been formed, and then ground and polished to impart the desired stainless properties.

What I claim is:-

1. A table knife made from a fiat blank and comprising a blade and an integral coplanar tang separated by a corrugated portion twisted through an angle of which provides between the blade and the tang a corrugated web transverse to the plane of the blade and tang and extending laterally beyond both sides of the blade and tang.

2. A table knife made from a fiat blank and comprising a blade, an integral coplanar and somewhat heavier handle portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said fiat blade and handle portion twisted through an angle of 180 to form a right-hand helix, said intermediate portion including a warped, inclined Web portion adapted for the application thereto of the end of the index finger in using the knife, and also including portions extending laterally beyond each side of the blade and handle, said laterally extending portions being disposed between the blade end of the knife and the center of gravity thereof, to provide a bolster which is adapted to support the knife with the blade thereof elevated from the table or other surface upon which it may rest.

EDWARD DOUGLAS WAINWRIGHT CLARK. 

